Police station development bidding begins

PUBLISHED: 11:48 26 June 2008 | UPDATED: 13:22 06 May 2010

The existing police station in Victoria Street

THE POLICE have opened up the bidding for their large city centre station which looks set to be demolished. The successful developer will be required to provide an alternative station within 500 metres of the current St Albans site in Victoria Street. Bec

THE POLICE have opened up the bidding for their large city centre station which looks set to be demolished.

The successful developer will be required to provide an alternative station within 500 metres of the current St Albans site in Victoria Street.

Because of new custodial facilities at Hatfield serving the whole of the area, the new station will not need any cells to hold people.

Making the announcement this week, chair of the Herts Police Authority, Yasmin Batliwala, said: "Policing the city of St Albans is very important to the authority and we will do nothing that threatens the good policing service currently provided."

She added: "We are confident that this approach will not only allow us to improve our police station facilities in St Albans but will also maximise the potential of the existing site."

St Albans MP Anne Main welcomed the news saying it was, "a golden opportunity to create a visionary development there."

She said that it would be a disappointment to see the entire site consumed by housing and made the suggestion of a department store or a cinema.